Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-22
& Terrible Fight.

= A2rPiDke Fight.
A London correspondent under Gate of the
is b ins.ant writes "EArly this morning
e.e.a was j. f=arlul and exciting battle in
tae Juaa,a Exu!Diton nj Liverpool. Del
olouico no most oiucky tanner of beasts,
a4s ssoa ezc.ting the nerves Of the visitors
f,l' & loag time by triang in cage with
Jh-ea 0ig forest lions. Five more lions, OF .
d!lerenI Kind, out very big also, arrived
fe0u. africa yesterday, and were put at once
1870 the Dig cage with the three already ST
nome there :hey had no training, but
D-.mogico vent in among them and thrilled
tue crowd that filed the menagerie by All
unusually sensational performance.
"Waea lie had doGc, Mile. koia, his parl
per. went iii with the llous and took little
Gog Iai5 was repeated four times during
the day, and The Eve new lions were too
much summed by Tie huge, noisy crowd
about them and the repeated visits of the
lady, gentleman and cog, 10 think of any
thing else. Their astonishment had not
worn OIL, and they were still quiet when
left alone for tie night by the attendants ct
10 O'clock.
shortly after midnight, however, the
m u2geria YVES filed with frightful roar
!iK aux SHaII.bs,, dbN = sci cICSpibS, Ob
lie premises rushed in to find the big iron
cage rocking, and the eight lions lighting
furious!y, rolled Up into n huge dark ball
from which tbs olood stained fur was flying
n Ai directions. The huge beasts rolled
over and over, dashing madiy against the
sides of tbs cage, and biting pieces out of
eacn other with ferocity that was sicken-
ing. Ali tbs sights organized to crafty
man's fondness for fighting would have
seemed the taiaest cbid's play in compare
son.
After wEie it became evident that
there were two distinct sides in the battle
aud he new arrivals were pitted at unfair
odds against the IONS who had been in
possession. The efforts Of the servant to
separate them only increased their fury, ard
at last he rushed eff for Delmonico, who
waB asleep near by in Edge lane. The
tanler arrived half clad and found his lions
bleeding feerfully but still fighting.
"TDe battle was narrowing down to aduel
between two OF the biggest lions, which
were rapidly biting each other to pieces in
the middle OF the cage. Occasionally the
battle became general, and for q few seconds
there would be 6 wild .jumble Of snarling
lions with savage ciuncbing of teeth to
tell how tbs flesh was being torn. The ap.
pearance Of Demonico with Il red hot iron
produced On effect, and oil but the two Chief
compatants stopped fighting and crouched
sullerly down, licking their bloody wounds
and snarling encouragement 10 the TWO
leaders.
"On these in their rage hot iron was use.
| less even when applied 10 raw flesh. The
lions responded to The burning sensation
only by tearing away at each other more
! fercely.
at last Delmonico, fearing he would
! lose his two greatest actors, took resolu-
ton which would probably not have oc.
Cured 20 any other man if the existence oi
| the entire animal creation had besn threat
ened. He entered the cage half clad as be
was aud shut himself in. He Eext opened
door communicating with second cage
| sud drove into it like so many sheep the
six lions that had been looking on.
Meanwhile the other lions were Still
| fgh,iug, although much weaker. Del
monico's attempts TO separate them were
Useless They paid net Inc slightest at
ton 10 iiim, aud although in their struggle
they dashed AGAINST hiEi, they were evident
ly unconscious OF bis presence.
Before Iae ta.8ar could form any plan to
separate theo1 the fight ended of itself. Tho
bIg farestlon. who mad been defending hi;
bat;e against the five strangers, rolled ovel
on III back. erowied family, and died as ths
other seized him again by tho throat. One
o. TN trout iegs was gnawed off complete
!v.a h!nG leg was chewed TO u pulp, all o
lna none aud must Of the neck were bitten
aw-y aad the body was covered with blood
n, Was no entire cage. There was not CT
ne dead lion aOy uAbitten whole piece o
skln largo enough to hava made glove
he mad fought for his rights just as Ions
as he ned been able TO work his teeth ant
claws.
The victor seemed at first inclined t.
dash sc the tanner and at the lions IN th'
neichboring cage, but be changed his mint
undar Delmonico's eye, and after veal
bGs triumphant roar over the body Of hi
victim he retired into corner and moane(
over his wounds. Although conquerer h,
wa4 rot 10 be envied. His name was gon'
! anu his body looked as though an especial
{ ly wicked harrow had been repeatedly drag
: eed ever it, Blood tricked from hundred
ugiy wounds, aud there is little hope that b.
will live. Curiously enough, not one of tn
lions had jtstail bitten off in the fray, which
seams to indicate that some code of homo
exists among lions which prevents then
from making each other ridiculous, even il
the deadiest combat.
"The other six lions will live, but the,
were so badly bitten that only two could b
patched up to perform to-day, and thei
mangled appearance terrified Mile. Kora'
lit le dog out of all recollection of his role
The loss if the second lion dies will be abou
e40O. In any case he will always remain
damaged lion."